Castle, cobbles and coffee by bus to Rochester!

Situated right in the heart of the Garden of England, the thriving market town of Rochester stands upon centuries of incredible history. A major trade and maritime hub on the River Medway, Rochester is home to one of the most distinctive town centres in Britain, brimming with both fascinating history and local independent businesses.

From the Romans to the Jutes, all the way to the novels of Charles Dickens, it is clear that the town has captivated the minds of creatives for generations, fostering a uniquely industrious culture that is keenly felt whilst wandering its charming cobbled high street.

Merely a stones’ throw from both London and the Kentish coast, Rochester’s fantastic transport links makes it an unmissable destination easily accessible by bus, with convenient routes linking the town to North Kent, Maidstone and the rest of Medway. The bus services are brilliant in Rochester, with customer-centric Nu-Venture and it’s scenic 151 from West Malling and through blissful Kentish countryside being a particular jewel in the crown! Follow this fab itinerary for a Nu-Venture adventure of a treat to Medway  https://www.greatscenicjourneys.co.uk/itineraries/a-fab-itinerary-for-a-nu-venture-adventure-to-rochester-and-chatham/

For other services and to find out more and plan your fun-packed trip to Rochester, check out…https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200161/travel/516/bus_services/2

Rochester’s strategically valuable location has allowed for a vibrant, distinctive market town to flourish within its walls for thousands of years. Straddling the east bank of the River Medway, distinguishing Men of Kent from Kentish Men (or Maids), it’s riverside position has endowed the town with a key military importance, hundreds of years even before the development of the nearby Chatham dockyard, laying place for many famous battles from the First Barons’ War all the way to the Anglo-Dutch conflicts. Today, Rochester Castle towers above the Medway towns as a testament to its battle-hardiness and long warring tradition.

Built in the wake of the Norman Conquest of England, the castle is the dominant feature of Rochester’s skyline, visible from miles outside of the town. The tallest manmade structure in the Medway area, it provides breathtaking views of Rochester, the river and even the surrounding towns. Entrusted mostly to the Archbishop of Canterbury in its early history, the castle was the scene of one of England’s most consequential battles with its siege in 1215 during the First Barons’ War, the country’s first civil war. When several prominent barons rebelled against King John in the mid 1210’s, the castle was seized from the church’s control by London rebels sympathetic to the barons. In response, royal forces laid siege to the fortress, the tunnels and roofs being set alight with pig fat until the rebels eventually surrendered after a month of brutal fighting. Walking around the castle grounds, damage from this historic siege is still visible even to this day.

Nowadays, the English Heritage site stages open-air concerts, with popular acts such as UB40, Craig David and Van Morrison performing at the castle over the years. As well as live music, the grounds also play host to the immensely popular Christmas markets, which attracts up to 250,000 people to the castle gardens annually. In the summer months, the wide open spaces of the grounds are ideal for picnics, with The Castle Kiosk providing plenty of food and drink, as well as being the perfect spot for photos of the town. 

Naturally, a defining feature of Rochester is it’s riverside location. So much of the history of this town has been crafted by its relationship to the Medway, shaping not only the layout but the general feel of the place. The Esplanade provides a magnificent green space for visitors to take in the splendour of both the town and the river alike, the accessible riverside paths are buttressed by beautiful gardens, with exciting play areas for young children, complimenting the spectacular views of Rochester’s majestic townhouses and city walls. Walking through the Esplanade Gardens provides an interesting insight into the history of Rochester Pier (currently closed for restoration), especially at the zenith of Victorian river travel in which the pier functioned as a busy terminal for steam-powered passenger services between London and the Medway towns.

Rochester’s advantageous location on the historic Watling Street route and near the confluence of the Medway and the Thames, has allowed for the town to develop into a thriving hub of commerce as well as defence. Today, this tradition is kept alive by the town’s unique high street, which features a diverse range of cafes, restaurants, pubs, bookshops, museums and so much more.

At every cobbled step, Rochester’s high street is steeped in history. The Huguenot Museum brings to life a fascinating story of migration, instrumental not only in the development of Rochester but our national story altogether. The only one of its kind in Britain, The Huguenot Museum chronicles the Huguenots, Calvinist Protestant refugees fleeing violent religious persecution in the Kingdom of France. After the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685 by King Louis XIV, there were major influxes of French-speaking Huguenots into England (particularly Kent and London), which had a greater deal of religious freedom and tolerance. This wave of migration significantly impacted English society, especially in places such as Rochester, where trade and industry was boosted by the absorption of highly-skilled immigrants, who specialised in banking, silk-weaving and watchmaking.

Huguenot influence is ubiquitous throughout the town, with The French Hospital, opened in 1718 to support the Huguenot descendant population in Medway, sitting just a few doors down from the museum on the high street. The Huguenot Museum is a fascinating and unique experience, hosting a wide array of resources and artifacts that paint an illustrious picture of this remarkable wave of migration and the achievements and contributions of the Huguenot descendant populations in Kent and Britain as a whole.

Rochester is a very walkable town, with narrow cobbled streets and passageways that lend themselves to being explored on foot. You may work up a thirst exploring the Esplanade Gardens, or walking the ancient Watling Street route over the marvel of Victorian engineering that is the Medway Bridge, particularly in the summer months when Kent is often one of the warmest and driest regions of Britain.

Fortunately, Rochester High Street hosts dozens of excellent cafes, restaurants and pubs, allowing for diversity of choice when it comes to food and drink. Fancy a coffee? The Deaf Cat Coffee Shop has a great selection of caffeinated beverages, including their own blends that are roasted in Medway and available to buy in-store. Feeding off the rich history of the area, but still retaining a trendy, cosmopolitan feel, the zen interior perfectly balances its contemporary design without feeling juxtaposed to its antique exterior and surroundings. For the sweet toothed, the Candy Bar in Rochester High Street is legendary, with a truly eclectically massive range of confectionary!

Alongside its famous castle, Rochester Cathedral stands as another reminder of this town’s tremendous history. Recorded as being a place of Christian worship since AD 604, Rochester is considered by historians to be the second-oldest cathedral in Britain, younger only than Canterbury Cathedral. A visually striking building, the cathedral grounds run adjacent to the high street and Watling Street, demonstrating how the town has sprawled outwards from the church. Like the exterior, the cathedral’s interior is an equally stunning blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, which provides a beautiful backdrop to the Cafe in the Crypt.

If you find yourself wanting a change of pace or scenery, you may be enticed into making use of Rochester’s excellent bus links to expand the scope of your Medway adventure and explore the close-knit neighbouring towns. Due to their favourable position in central Kent and natural geography, the Medway towns have sprung up in synergy with one another, mutually aiding and reinforcing each other in the process. This is evidenced nearby in Chatham’s historic dockyard, with over half of the site spanning over into neighbouring Gillingham. Consequently, the towns sort of organically coalesce with one another, blurring boundaries and melding together quite seamlessly. Such is the tight proximity between the conurbations, on your travels around Rochester you could quite possibly find yourself wandering into charming Chatham or super Strood without even noticing!

Luckily, the bus system in Medway makes it easy and convenient to navigate the urban sprawl of the towns. From Rochester’s centrally located railway station, numerous services provide easy access further along the River Medway towards Chatham, a historic naval town with multiple shopping centres and a bustling high street.

Of course, it is impossible to mention Chatham without referencing its famous dockyard, potentially the defining feature of the entire Medway region. First commissioned in 1567, in response to geopolitical instability in Europe and threat of war with both France and Spain, the enormous 400 acre site spans the east bank of the river into neighbouring Gillingham, its strategic location ensuring the dock became one of Britain’s most valuable military sites.

The 700 Arriva Kent and Surrey route allows an easy journey from the centre of Rochester to Chatham’s Waterfront bus station, just a short walk from the Dockyard. This convenient route also links the Medway Towns with Bluewater, one of Britain’s largest shopping centres, whilst providing an interesting tour of Strood and The Earl Estate in the northern sections of the region.

With its splendid riverside location, fascinating history and excellent transport links. Rochester is a delightful destination that lends itself well to a day trip. Whether it’s one of the town’s numerous live events, sightseeing or shopping, this compact, walkable town has plenty of attractions to offer its visitors!